WINNIPEG — A top Manitoba health official says COVID-19 numbers are expected to worsen for at least another week before dropping.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, the deputy chief public health officer, says the current spike in case numbers and hospitalization rates is being made worse by people not following the rules.

He says too many people are still gathering and interacting with others, despite public health orders that have been tightened three times in the last month.

Atwal released new modelling that suggests the daily number of new cases will likely rise for another week, and intensive care usage might rise for another four weeks.

Atwal says that is going to put a lot of stress on the health-care system.

The province is reporting 491 new cases and 67 people with COVID-19 are in intensive care.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2021.

The Canadian Press